Chain clamp



April 23, 1968 A. L. JQNES 3,379,005

- CHAIN CLAMP f Filed April 1, 1966 /4"'k g /A 4s A /2 34 40 4, 42 36 ll 42 n@v INVENTOR. u ,BH4 y.. don/Es,

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United States Patent C) 3,379,005 CHAIN CLAMP Alpha L. Jones, Stockton,Calif., assignor of twentyfive percent to Alpha L. Jones, twenty-tivepercent to Jimmie M. Jones, and fifty percent to Melvin J. Denney, allof Stockton, Calif., as tenants in common Filedf Apr. 1, 1966, Ser. No.539,536 8 Claims. (Cl. 59-7) This invention relates to a clamp for usein removing and replacing links in conveyor, sprocket, and other chains.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a more compactand efficient device of the kind indicated; and which is of reducedwidth so that the device can be used in confined places, such as onchains partially covered by chain guards.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an economical andlow cost device of the character indicated above which is more easilyand positively operable, by means of different available forms ofwrenches, and the like, including ratchet wrenches, applied to the hexhead of the clamping bolt of the device; and which is composed of asmall number of simple and easily assembled parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of Ithecharacter indicated above, wherein cornponents of different lengths arereadily interchangeable to enable the device to be used to clamp chainshaving dilferent lengths and sizes of links.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevation, showing a device of theinvention in clamping relation to a chain, the links between the jaws ofthe device being in relaxed condition, preparatory to removal thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises aclamping bolt 10, having an elongated threaded shank 12, on the outerend of which is a xed hex head =14. The shank 12 is substantially longertha-n the distance between the pins 16 connecting links 18 of a chain,such .as a roller chain 20, wherein the pins 16 are covered by sleeves22. The bolt shank 12 preferably has a smooth portion 24, adjacent tothe head 14.

A spacer sleeve 26 is slidably a-nd rotatably circumposed on the smoothportion 24, of the bolt shank 12, and bears against the head 14. Anumber of spacers 26 is contemplated, of different lengths, toaccommodate the device to clamp chains having links of differentlengths. Similarly, bolts having different length Shanks 12 arecontemplated.

Spaced along the bolt shank 12, from each other, are the smooth boresleeves 28 of similar but reversed rst and second jaws 30 and 32,respectively. The sleeve 2S of the first jaw 30 normally abuts thespacer 26. For use with different types and sizes of chain links, thejaws 30, 32 are adapted to be varied in shape and dimensions.

As herein illustrated, the jaws 30, '32 comprise, besides their sleeves28, hooks 34, which, as to the two jaws are similar but are reversedwith respect to each other. The hooks 30, as shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and4, comprise longitudinal bars 36, as of rectangular cross section, ofsubstantially the lengths of the sleves 28, which are welded orotherwise suitably fixed along the sides of the sleeves, as indicated at38, or can be integral with the sleeves. The bars 36 merge, at one endthereof, into downwardly or laterally, and inwardly curved crooks 40,which provide, at their inner or facing sides, arcuate concave surfaces42,

3,379,005 Patented Apr. 23, 196s ICC which preferably conform incurvature to the roller sleeves 22 of chain pins 16, with which thedevice is to be used. The crooks 40 are preferably tapered, away fromthe bars 36, so as to provide relatively sharp or thin terminals 44, ontheir ends, which facilitate placing the crooks between chain link sides46, into engagement with selected chain pins, as shown in FIGURE 1, withthe concave sides 42 ofthe crooks engaged with the remote vsides of twoselected chain link pins, located to permit of the relaxing ofintervening chain links which are to be removed or replaced, as shown inFIGURE l.

Threaded on the bolt shank 12, outside of the sleeve of the second jaw32, is a hex stop nut 48, which is adapted to bear against the outer endof this sleeve. In order to prevent the putting of the stop nut wronglyon the bolt shank, and in order to preclude rotation thereof in wrongdirections, as the bolt 10 is rotated, the stop nut 48 has suitablyaffixed to diametrically opposed corners thereof, as by means ofweldings 50, longitudinally elongated stop bars 52, preferably of roundstock, and which reach beyond the ends of the stop nut 48. As shown inFIGURE 4, the stop bars 52 are adapted to engage related sides of thebars 36 of the second jaw 32, in accordance with the direction ofrotation of the bolt 10, to arrest following rotation of the stop nut48.

In use and operation, the components of the device having been selectedfor length, in accordance with the length and type of chain links, thehooks 34 of the jaws 30, 32 are engaged with the link pins, the bolt 10having been backed oif sufficiently to allow ample manual spread of thejaws away from each other for this purpose, the bolt 10 is then rotated,by means of any suitable implement applied to the bolt head 14, so thatthe jaws are forced toward each other, until the desired relaxation ofintervening chain links has been obtained. The intervening chain linkshaving been removed and replaced, the bolt 10 is rotated in the oppositedirection, to enable the jaws 30, 32 to be spread apart, either manuallyor by tension residing in the chain.

What is claimed is:

1. A chain clamp comprising a clamping bolt having a shank formed with afixed head on one end thereof, a pair of rst and second chain link pinengaging jaws sleeved on the bolt shank for rotational and slidingmovements thereon, the iirst jaw being located adjacent to the bolt headand the second jaw being spaced from the iirst jaw along the bolt shank,and a stop nut threaded on the bolt shank at the side of the second jawremote from the irst jaw.

2. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hexnut.

3. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein a spacer sleeve isslidably and rotatively circumposed on the bolt shank between the bolthead and the first jaw.

4. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said stop nut is a hexnut, said stop nut having diametrically opposed stop bars affixedthereto, said stop bar being arranged to engage related sides of thesecond jaw in accordance with the direction of rotation of the clampingbolt relative thereto.

5. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said jaws comprisesleeves circumposed on the bolt shank, and facing hooks affixed to sidesof the jaw sleeves.

6. A chain cl-amp according to claim 1, wherein said jaws comprisesleeves circumposed on the bolt shank, and facing hooks aixed to sidesof the jaw sleeves, said hooks comprising longitudinal bars fixed to thejaw sleeves, said bars having lateral crooks formed with concave facingsides adapted for conforming engagement with chain link pins.

7. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hexnut, said jaws comprising sleeves rotatably and slidably circumposed onthe bolt shank, said hooks comprising bars xed to sides of the jawsleeves, said bars merging into lateral crooks having concave facingsides adapted to embrace chain link pins.

8. A chain clamp according to claim 1, wherein said bolt head is a hexnut, said jaws comprising sleeves rotatably :and slidably circumposed onthe bolt shank, said hooks comprising bars xed to sides of the jawsleeves, said bars merging into lateral crooks having concave facingsides adapted to embrace chain link pins, said stop nut having aixedthereto diametrically opposed stop bars adapted to make stop engagementswith related sides of the hook bar of the second jaw hook in accordancewith the direction of rotation of the clamping screw relative to thestop nut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,074 2/ 1904 Jackson 74-25 8'762,060 6/1904 Huhn 74-258 1,710,092 4/ 1929 Hitchcock 59-7 l0 CHARLESW. LANHAM, Prmaly Examiner.

G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CHAIN CLAMP COMPRISING A CLAMPING BOLT HAVING A SHANK FORMED WITH AFIXED HEAD ON ONE END THEREOF, A PAIR OF FIRST AND SECOND CHAIN LINK PINENGAGING JAWS SLEEVED ON THE BOLT SHANK FOR ROTATIONAL AND SLIDINGMOVEMENTS THEREON, THE FIRST JAW BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE BOLT HEADAND THE SECOND JAW BEING SPACED FROM THE FIRST JAW ALONG THE BOLT SHANK,AND A STOP NUT THREADED ON TH BOLT SHANK AT THE SIDE OF THE SECOND JAWREMOTE FROM THE FIRST JAW.